Shrinathji — The Govardhan-Lifting Lord of Nathdwara

Shrinathji is the form of Krishna with the left arm raised, holding up Govardhan. As the principal deity of Pushtimarg, he is enthroned at Nathdwara in Rajasthan.

"Shrinath" means the Lord of Shri, that is, Lakshmi, and devotees lovingly add "ji" to call him Shrinathji. In Vraja he was also known as Shri Govardhannathji. His form is that of the seven-year-old child who holds up Govardhan with his left arm raised high, his right hand resting at his waist.

According to Pushtimarg tradition, this form manifested by itself from Govardhan hill: first the raised arm was seen, and later the blessed face. Shri Vallabhacharya arranged for his worship on Govardhan, and his son Shri Vitthalnathji, known as Gusainji, established an elaborate tradition of seva, in which the eight Ashtachhap poets, including Surdas, sang kirtan. According to tradition, when danger arose in the Mughal period the deity was carried away from Vraja on a chariot, and at the village of Sihad in Mewar the chariot wheel sank into the ground. Taking this as the Lord's wish, a temple was built there, the place now called Nathdwara.

At the Nathdwara haveli there are eight darshans each day: mangala, shringar, gwal, rajbhog, utthapan, bhog, sandhya-aarti and shayan. Clothing, ornaments, food offerings and the painted pichhwai backdrops change with the seasons. The Annakut festival is celebrated here with special splendour.

Name Sa

श्रीनाथजी

Name Roman

Shrinathji

Meaning

Lord of Shri (Lakshmi); the Govardhan-lifting form worshipped at Nathdwara

Source

Pushtimarg (Vallabha sampradaya) tradition